What should you know about self diagnose ADHD?

ADHD can involve long-standing differences in attention, activity or impulse control that interfere with daily life. Occasional distraction is not enough to establish it. Sleep problems, stress, depression, anxiety, substance use, medication effects and physical conditions can produce similar experiences, including [Difficulty Concentrating](/symptoms/difficulty-concentrating/), [Feeling Anxious](/symptoms/feeling-anxious/) or [Irritability](/symptoms/irritability/).

A clinician considers when the pattern began, how it affects work, study, relationships and organisation, and whether it appears in more than one setting. Childhood information or another person's observations may add useful context.

Write down examples rather than relying on a checklist score: missed deadlines, losing items, unfinished tasks, restlessness or impulsive decisions. Note sleep, mood, medicines, alcohol or drug use, and situations where symptoms improve or worsen. Ask someone who knows you well what they have noticed. Book a [Mental Health Assessment](/treatments/consultations-and-assessment/mental-health-assessment/) if the pattern is affecting functioning, and do not start prescription treatment based on an online result.

Arrange professional help when concentration or impulsivity is disrupting safety, learning, work or relationships. Seek urgent support if distress includes thoughts of self-harm, inability to stay safe, severe agitation, confusion or loss of contact with reality. A sudden change in attention also deserves medical review rather than an ADHD assumption.

What other explanations should we check? Which records or observations would help? How will you assess symptoms across settings? What support can I use while assessment is underway?